Drinking alcohol

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Having ‘one standard drink’ of alcohol isn’t as simple as you might think. Different alcoholic drinks have different strengths. The amount of alcohol in any beverage depends on the way they were made, so they can vary significantly. For example, some beer can be as strong as wine, so it’s important to check product labels for more information.

We recommend that healthy men and women drink no more than two standard alcoholic drinks a day. If you have high blood pressure, heart failure, cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease, liver disease or diabetes, or if you are obese, you may need to drink less than the above-recommended limits.

Alcohol causes high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol. Talk to your doctor to find out what is right for you.

Tips to lower your alcohol intake

Alternate your alcoholic drinks with low kilojoule drinks, such as tap water or plain mineral water.

Dilute your alcoholic drinks with tap water or plain mineral water when you can.

Use only half-measures of spirits.

Choose a low alcohol or light beer.

Choose a low alcohol wine.

When you are thirsty, drink cold water instead of alcohol. Keep a jug of water on the table with your meals.

What’s a standard drink?

A standard drink is a unit of measurement. In Australia, a standard drink is any drink containing 10 grams of alcohol. One standard drink always contains the same amount of alcohol, regardless of container size or alcohol type (beer, wine, or spirit).

1

375ml
Mid Strength
3.5% Alc. Vol

1

100ml
Standard Serve of Red Wine
13.5% Alc. Vol

(Above) Examples of a standard drink. Note: options in the table vary depending on the amount (mL) and alcoholic strength.

Standard drink measures

Number of standard drinks - Beer

1.1
285ml
Full Strength
4.8% Alc. Vol

0.8
285ml
Mid Strength
3.5% Alc. Vol

0.6
285ml
Low Strength
2.7% Alc. Vol

1.6
425ml
Full Strength
4.8% Alc. Vol

1.2
425ml
Mid Strength
3.5% Alc. Vol

0.9
425ml
Low Strength
2.7% Alc. Vol

1.4
375ml
Full Strength
4.8% Alc. Vol

1
375ml
Mid Strength
3.5% Alc. Vol

0.8
375ml
Low Strength
2.7% Alc. Vol

1.4
375ml
Full Strength
4.8% Alc. Vol

1
375ml
Mid Strength
3.5% Alc. Vol

0.8
375ml
Low Strength
2.7% Alc. Vol

34
24 x 375ml
Full Strength
4.8% Alc. Vol

24
24 x 375ml
Mid Strength
3.5% Alc. Vol

19
24 x 375ml
Low Strength
2.7% Alc. Vol

Number of standard drinks - Wine

1.6
150ml
Average Restaurant Serving of Red Wine
13.5% Alc. Vol

1
100ml
Standard Serve of Red Wine
13.5% Alc. Vol

0.9
60ml
Standard Serve of Port
18% Alc. Vol

1.4
150ml
Average Restaurant Serving of White Wine
11.5% Alc. Vol

1
100ml
Standard Serve of White Wine
11.5% Alc. Vol

1.4
150ml
Average Restaurant Serving of Champagne
12% Alc. Vol

7.5
750ml
Bottle of Champagne
12.5% Alc. Vol

8
750ml
Bottle of Red Wine
13.5% Alc. Vol

43
4Litres
Cask Red Wine
13.5% Alc. Vol

21
2Litres
Cask Red Wine
13.5% Alc. Vol

7.5
750ml
Bottle of White Wine
12.5% Alc. Vol

39
4Litres
Cask White Wine
12.5% Alc. Vol

19.5
2Litres
Cask White Wine
12.5% Alc. Vol

28
2Litres
Cask of Port
17.5% Alc. Vol

Number of Standard Drinks - Spirits

1
30ml
High Strength Spirit Nip
40% Alc. Vol

22
700ml
High Strength Bottle of Spirits
40% Alc. Vol

1.1
275ml
Full Strength ready-to-drink
5% Alc. Vol

1.2
330ml
Full Strength ready-to-drink
5% Alc. Vol

2.6
660ml
Full Strength ready-to-drink
5% Alc. Vol

1.5
275ml
High Strength ready-to-drink
7% Alc. Vol

1.8
330ml
High Strength ready-to-drink
7% Alc. Vol

3.6
660ml
High Strength ready-to-drink
7% Alc. Vol

1
250ml
Full Strength Pre-mix Spirits
5% Alc. Vol

1.2
300ml
Full Strength Pre-mix Spirits
5% Alc. Vol

1.5
375ml
Full Strength Pre-mix Spirits
5% Alc. Vol

1.7
440ml
Full Strength Pre-mix Spirits
5% Alc. Vol

1.4 - 1.9
250ml
High Strength Pre-mix Spirits
7 - 10% Alc. Vol

1.6
300ml
High Strength Pre-mix Spirits
7% Alc. Vol

2.1
375ml
High Strength Pre-mix Spirits
7% Alc. Vol

2.4
440ml
High Strength Pre-mix Spirits
7% Alc. Vol

Reproduced with permission: National Health and Medical Research Council.